(husband and wife's anger) come both together.-Ful ler. LXVII. as much upon the Deference often shrinks and withers approach of intimacy, as the sensitive plant does upon the touch of one's finger.-Shenstone. LXVIII. The soul, considered with its Creator, is like one of those mathematical lines that may draw nearer to another for all eternity without a possibility of touching it:* and can there be a thought so transporting, as to consider ourselves in these perpetual approaches to him, who is not only the standard of perfection but of happiness!Addison. LXIX. Our meats and our sports (much of them) have relation to church-works. The coffin of our Christmas pies, in shape long, is in imitation of the cratch; our choosing kings and queens on twelfth night, hath reference to the three kings. So likewise our eating of fritters, whipping of tops, roasting of herrings, jack of lents, &c., they were all in imitation of church-works, emblems of martyrdom. Our tansies at Easter have reference to the bitter herbs; though at the same time t'was always the fashion for a man to have a gammon of bacon, to show himself to be no Jew.-Selden. LXX. In all the world there is no vice Less prone t'excess than avarice; It neither cares for food nor clothing: Nature's content with little, that with nothing. LXXI. Butler. Dissipation is absolutely a labour when the round of Vanity Fair has been once made; but fashion makes us think light of the toil, and we describe the circle as mechanically as a horse in a mill.-Zimmerman. * Those lines are what the geometricians call the asymptotes of the hyperbola. LXXII. To pardon those absurdities in ourselves which we cannot suffer in others, is neither better nor worse than to be more willing to be fools ourselves than to have others so.-Pope. LXXIII. Freeman. Pray inform me what can be worse than what I beheld yesterday? Can any thing be more provoking, than for a man to insult his wife after that merciless rate; or more odious, than for a woman to expose her husband's infirmities? Bellair. Yes, I tell you, blows are more provoking and odious. What signify a few foolish angry words? they don't break bones, nor give black eyes. Besides, this sort of language is now become so habitual to the worthy couple, that it makes no manner of impression on them. Mithridates, you know, by accustoming himself to poison, brought his body to such a pitch at last, that he could regale himself with opium, and feast upon rats-bane.The Militant Couple.-Buckingham. LXXIV. Style in painting is the same as in writing; a power over materials, whether words or colours, by which conceptions or sentiments are conveyed.—Sir J. Reynolds. LXXV. Where jealousie is the jailour, many break the prison, it opening more wayes to wickednesse than it stoppeth; so that where it findeth one, it maketh ten dishonest. Fuller. LXXVI. The most usual way among young men who have no resolution of their own, is first to ask one friend's advice, and follow it for some time: then to ask advice of another, and turn to that; so of a third; still unsteady, always changing. However, be assured that every change of this nature is for the worse; people may tell you of your being unfit for some peculiar occupations in life; but heed them not, whatever employment you follow with In perseverance and assiduity will be found fit for you; it will be your support in youth, and comfort in age. learning the useful part of every profession, very moderate abilities will suffice; even if the mind be a little balanced with stupidity, it may in this case be useful. Great abilities have always been less serviceable to the possessors than moderate ones. Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion still improves, by observing, that the most swift are ever the least manageable. To know one profession only is enough for one man; and this (whatever the professors may tell you to the contrary) is soon learned. Be contented, therefore, with one good employment; for if you understand two at a time, people will give you business in neither.-Gold smith. LXXVII. He that is a good man, is three quarters of his way towards the being a good Christian, wheresoever he lives, or whatsoever he is called.-South. LXXVIII. Raillery is no longer agreeable only while the whole company is pleased with it. I would least of all be understood to except the person rallied.-Steele. LXXIX. The condition of human nature resembles a table chequered with compartments of black and white: potentates and people have their rise and fall; cities and families their trines and sextiles, their quartiles and oppositions.-Burton. LXXX. Judgment is but a curious pair of scales, That turns with th' hundredth part of true or false, The subtlety and niceness of its weight, Like those that are less artificial, And therefore students, in their ways of judging, And by their over-understanding lose LXXXI. Butler. It is possible that a wise and good man may be prevailed on to game; but it is impossible that a professed gamester should be a wise and good man.-Lavater. LXXXII. Jarres concealed are half reconciled; which if generally known, 'tis a double task, to stop the breach at home, and men's mouths abroad. To this end, a good husband never publicly reproves his wife. An open reproof puts her to do penance before all that are present; after which, many study rather revenge than reformation. -Fuller. LXXXIII. 'Tis urged That we corrupt youth, and traduce superiors. Among the auditors, one whose conscience tells him Or when a covetous man's express'd, whose wealth (Though honour'd with a consulship) find himself Nay, even yourself, my lord, that are the image The Roman Actor.-Massinger. LXXXIV. A good inclination is but the first rude draught of virtue; but the finishing strokes are from the will; which, if well disposed, will by degrees perfect; if ill disposed, will by the superinduction of ill habits quickly deface it.-South. LXXXV. There is not a man in the world, but desires to be, or to be thought to be, a wise man; and yet if he considered how little he contributes himself thereunto, he might wonder to find himself in any tolerable degree of understanding.-Clarendon. LXXXVI. I would, if possible, represent the errors of life, especially those arising from what we call gallantry, in such a manner as the people of pleasure may read me. In this case I must not be rough to gentlemen and ladies, but speak of sin as a gentleman.-Steele. |